Purpose: Mammographic density and tumor appearance are breast cancer prognostic factors. Conceivably, mammographic features are macroscopic reflections of tumor´s molecular composition, but to an unknown extent. Our aim was to study associations of mammographic features with molecular tumor profiles.
Methods: Invasive breast cancers (2007-2016) in Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS) for which there were tumor RNA-sequencing analyses within Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network - Breast (SCAN-B) (n=102) or All Breast Cancer in Malmö (ABIM) (n=50) were identified. Density (fatty vs. dense), tumor appearance (mass vs. spiculation), and intrinsic subtypes were registered. Differences in gene/metagene expression and Microenvironment Cell Population Counter were analyzed with R. Overall survival was used as endpoint.
Results: No gene expression differences between density groups was observed. In one cohort (but not the other), Luminal A tumors associated with fatty breasts. For spiculation vs. mass, (p<0.01, t-test) 86 genes were differentially expressed; only one gene was differentially expressed comparing density. Gene set enrichment analysis showed genes highly expressed in spiculated tumors were enriched for extracellular matrix-associated genes whereas genes highly expressed with masses were associated with proliferation. A spiculation metagene, based on differentially expressed genes, showed association with estrogen receptor positivity, lower grade, and improved survival, but it was not an independent prognostic factor.
Conclusion: There are clear differences in molecular composition between breast tumors with a spiculated appearance vs. a mass as the dominant tumor appearance. However, there are no apparent molecular differences related to the density of the breast in which the tumor has arisen.
Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Diagnostic imaging; Mammography; Survival.
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